Methods and apparatus for aggregating, displaying, and promoting branded commodities from multiple vendors

Abstract

The present invention is related to receiving, storing, and displaying commodities, and more particularly to promoting branded commodities within a commodity search engine which may contain a great number of unbranded and branded commodities.

1 . A computer-controlled method implemented in a multi-vendor commodity search engine server comprising:
 receiving a search request, said search request responsive to input from a user into a multi-vendor commodity search engine input form, and said search request containing at least one instruction for filtering or sorting by at least one branded commodity;   executing said search request, said server searching a commodities database and filtering or sorting by the at least one branded commodity; and   transmitting a search result, said search result responsive to said search request, and containing information relating to at least one branded commodity.   
     
     
         2 . the method in  claim 1 , further comprising: associating the at least one branded commodity with information from one of: a branded commodity programs database, and a vendors database. 
     
     
         3 . the method in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a first feed file from a first vendor server; and   adding data from said first feed file into said commodities database.   
     
     
         4 . the method in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving a second feed file from a second vendor server; and   adding data from said second feed file into said commodities database.   
     
     
         5 . the method in  claim 4 , wherein said commodity is a gemstone, and further wherein said information relating to the at least one branded gemstone includes one of: shape, carat weight, color, clarity, cut, depth percentage, table percentage, lab, fluorescence, symmetry, polish rating, girdle characteristics, culet characteristics, diamond measurements, price, and vendor. 
     
     
         6 . the method in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an initialization request, said request responsive to a request from a user to begin using said server; and   transmitting an initialization sequence responsive to said initialization request, said sequence containing configuration information for branded commodity program filters to display to the user within said multi-vendor commodity search engine input form.   
     
     
         7 . the method in  claim 6 , wherein said configuration information includes at least one of:
 tier, rank, name, and graphical information.   
     
     
         8 . the method in  claim 6 , wherein said configuration information is stored in a branded commodity programs database. 
     
     
         9 . the method in  claim 1 , wherein said commodity is a gemstone, and further wherein said information relating to the at least one branded gemstone includes one of: shape, carat weight, color, clarity, cut, depth percentage, table percentage, lab, fluorescence, symmetry, polish rating, girdle characteristics, culet characteristics, diamond measurements, price, vendor, and branded commodity icon. 
     
     
         10 . A multi-vendor commodity search engine server comprising:
 an interface for receiving a search request, said search request responsive to input from a user into a multi-vendor commodity search engine input form and said search request containing at least one instruction for filtering or sorting by at least one branded commodity, and for transmitting a search result, said search result responsive to said search request and containing information to at least one branded commodity; and,   a search engine for executing said search request and creating said search result, said search engine searching a commodities database and filtering or sorting by the at least one branded commodity.   
     
     
         11 . The multi-vendor commodity search engine server as recited in  claim 10 , further wherein said search engine is configured to associate the at least one branded commodity with information from one of: a branded commodity programs database, and a vendors database. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-vendor commodity search engine server as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a feed engine for receiving a first feed file from a first vendor server, and for adding data from said first feed file into said commodities database. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-vendor commodity search engine server as recited in  claim 12 , further wherein said feed engine is configured to receive a second feed file from a second vendor server, and is configured to add data from said second feed file into said commodities database. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-vendor commodity search engine server as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said commodity is a gemstone, and further wherein said information relating to the at least one branded gemstone includes one of: shape, carat weight, color, clarity, cut, depth percentage, table percentage, lab, fluorescence, symmetry, polish rating, girdle characteristics, culet characteristics, diamond measurements, price, and vendor. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-vendor commodity search engine server as recited in  claim 10 , further wherein said interface is configured to receive an initialization request, said request responsive to a request from a user to begin using said server, and said interface is further configured to transmit an initialization sequence responsive to said initialization request, said sequence containing configuration information for branded commodity program filters to display to the user within said multi-vendor commodity search engine input form. 
     
     
         16 . The multi-vendor commodity search engine server as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said configuration information includes at least one of: tier, rank, name, and graphical information. 
     
     
         17 . The multi-vendor commodity search engine server as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said configuration information is stored in a branded commodity programs database. 
     
     
         18 . The multi-vendor commodity search engine server as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said commodity is a gemstone, and further wherein said information relating to the at least one branded gemstone includes one of: shape, carat weight, color, clarity, cut, depth percentage, table percentage, lab, fluorescence, symmetry, polish rating, girdle characteristics, culet characteristics, diamond measurements, price, vendor, and branded commodity icon.